Back in my undergraduate days in sociology, I remember studying the function of the news. In its simplicity, the purpose of news is to spread information widely; that is to inform, educate, guide, disseminate opinions, create interpretations, distill awareness, and yes, to also entertain and advertise. News was intended to help us find direction and understand events from multiple vantage points and places.
Over the years, however, news has become a way of identifying ourselves within a context that is constantly shifting. Psychologically speaking, our brains are primed for the negativity of today’s news as a result of our basic primal survival instincts of readiness and survival. Considering the inundation of sensational stories that are often repetitive and speculative in nature, the danger may be an excess of shock and negativity, leading to mental, emotional and psychological stress.
So for today, I invite you back to the simplicity of considering the health of the news you consume; that is, ensuring the soup in which we swim feeds you with gratitude, innovation, compassion and perspective.
~ Maria Schmid
Maria Schmid & Partners: Top 35 Canadian Psychology Blogs